I'had some struggles that went on for too long a couple of months ago. Got some help, I'm in a good place now. There is now a free 24/7 text based service for people in crisis. So if like me phone calls aren't easy then you can text them when you are in a dark place. Just text Shout to 85258 https://www.giveusashout.org/
I'm trying to add the links that people post to the OP to act as a bit of resource for anyone needing support or advice, but please PM one of the mods if it looks like we've missed one. Here's the link for anyone that missed it. https://www.not606.com/threads/mental-health-discussion-thread.368218/
How old are you Quill? I'll take a guess and say not very old, at all. I've posted my story on this thread a long time back and I've read it ever since but promised I'd never post on it, again. I feel like I've got to now because I know a genuine case when I see one. You need help Quill and putting it off all the time, and then forgetting about it when you have an 'alright' day isn't the way to go, or you'll keep returning to the dark place. I went back and forwards to the Doctors and Mental Health team for years (from 16 to 30) but always half heartedly. I guess I knew I had to be there but deep down I didn't want to be there. I couldn't accept it. For over a decade, I got my prescription from the chemist walked to the nearest bin I seen and dumped them straight in there. I just couldn't face taking them and again I don't think I truly believed that I needed them. Unfortunately not ever taking them lead to me making a serious attempt at ending my life. I've still got the battle scars from it, my heart still sinks when I look my little brother in the eyes and think about what I put him through (he seen my head wide open and helped the paramedic stabilise me). It took for all of that to happen for me to give medication a chance. My anxiety about what I'd 'become' having to take tablets, what people would think, what the tablets would do to me.... It was all for nothing. I was waiting for this super change but it never came and then after 6 weeks all of a sudden I realised that things that would usually send me into meltdown wasn't actually affecting me and I was quite often looking at the positives of most situations, that was a strange but an unbelievable feeling. The tablets didn't make me drowsy, they didn't effect my weight, I didn't even know I was taking them. All they do is correct the imbalance we have in our brain and somehow change negative thoughts to positive thoughts. It's amazing! Please don't be like me, Quill. Seek help and take the tablets. Best wishes.
I can echo this. I have social anxiety. I have been diagnosed as being autistic. I have always had periods of darkness. Little things can trigger it and then I can spend days just feeling totally worthless and disconnected. I spent a lot of my life stressed about things 'normal' people wouldn't even notice. I tried counselling but it didn't work for me (I struggle to talk to people at all). I always refused medication because I didn't want to be a zombie. Throughout November and Early December I was miserable. I didn't enjoy anything. I didn't feel anything. I was just numb and in a very dark place. I regularly thought that the only good thing I could give my wife was my life insurance payout. Then one day my lovely, brilliant and very supportive wife verbally kicked my arse and told me I had to go back to the doctors. It was a wake up call, I deided I had to try medication. I wrote down everything I felt and handed it over to the GP. He prescribed SSRIs. I started them the following morning. Its been a month or so now and I don't feel like a zombie. I haven't gained weight, in fact I'm probably one of the few that has lost weight over Christmas, probably because I’m not so stressed and comfort eating. I don’t feel any different, I’m still me. But then every now and again I suddenly realise I’m doing things I wouldn’t normally do. Like holding conversations in public places. Not having a panic attack when the phone rings. Making small talk. Not feeling completely worthless when something goes wrong. There have been so many occasions when the darkness would have normally taken hold but hasn’t. I don’t even notice until afterwards that it didn’t happen. I feel better and happier than I ever have.
What strikes me reading this thread is that some people should bare it in mind when replying on other threads and social media in general . We all disagree with people but some of the aggression that gets shown sometimes, you never know the state of mind of the person you are arguing with . It’s something I would never have thought of before this thread, but often I’ve typed a reply out to somebody that seemed a tad harsh and thought , nah I’ll just leave it . You never know .
I tell him to get off here and get some help but he ignores me. Probably because we aren't exactly mates.
I've had a whirlwind few month. Both good and bad. I was made redundant, got into Open University, got into a new relationship and my mums had a breakdown. It feels like I've done more in the last 3 months then in the last three years. I feel really unsettled and a bit anxious.
But still able to share what you’re going through on here which is a good thing. Great to hear you’re in a new relationship and Open University, but I hope your Mum gets the support she needs Take care
I deliberated whether I should post the article on this thread, but felt a lighter articlle around mental health would do no harm. Apologies if anyone thinks I have misjudged it I'm sure City losing has spoilt many weekends for posters on here (not sure that passion is quite so intense with me nowadays), but does anyone else experience dangerous levels of stress? Devoted football fans experience dangerous levels of stress, research finds - The Independent https://apple.news/AxCfyBsnqSKuvb1nGzLGiAg
I think you are always right to post things like that on here Askew. The way i see it, the problem with a lot of it is allowing anxiety/depression to take over and i think posting stuff like that helps in making it seem a little less important if you see what i mean and probably not really in this case, but getting or having the ability to take the piss out of or laugh at the condition helps to break down the hold it can gain over us. I know when i get particularly bad instances its really because i have allowed it to take over or slipped into some bad habits. I know its not for some people but i like the fact i am able to take the piss out of myself about it to other people, and find things like Blackadders infamous wibble with the pencils up his nose very funny and have done just that with other people again to make light of the problem and hopefully helping.... I’m sure there will be a few people who would say I’m not allowed to make light of mental health conditions...... Sorry Askew i have done my normal go off on a tangent again.....